One of the most frequently asked questions I receive about the Daniel Fast concerns herbal tea. People have a hard time understanding why they can't have it on the fast, especially if it's caffeine-free and...Read more

During the Daniel Fast we spend time examining our hearts and work to align our ways with the way of the Lord.

The other morning during my daily quiet time, I found I was doing a...Read more

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“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.”Daniel 1:12

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” –——Daniel 10:2, 3

Welcome! The purpose of this site is to offer valuable and complete information about the Daniel Fast. As the Daniel Fast Blogger, my #1 goal is to help you have a successful fasting experience. More and more Christian men and women are choosing the Daniel Fast as their guideline to enter into the spiritual discipline. While the Daniel Fast is a partial fast, (rather than total abstention from all food) it still provides many of the attributes of denying the self and seeking God.

This blog is designed as a “gathering place” for information and resources about the Daniel Fast to serve those seeking God in this manner. Please “cruise” the blog. Remember, this is a blog format, so you will need to page down to see all the posts. Also, leave comments if you have ideas, questions, or comments.

Also, join our Facebook community! It’s a powerful way to stay connected to others who are seeking God through an extended period of prayer and fasting.

Receive your free newsletter: Just go to our website (where there is even more information about the fast) and submit your name and email address and you will receive recipes, helpful tips and powerful tools to support your fast and your journey with Christ. Click Here

Also, please know that we do our best to answer your questions on a timely basis, but we receive hundreds almost every day and so it takes a while to read your comments and then type answers. All comments are held for review to avoid spam messages showing up on the blog.

Dear Susan Your words of hope are just what we need in the body of Christ, It is fresh daily. I am so geartful to our Father for finding your site and I look forward daily to recieiving your messages from our Lord. I have other freinds now reading as well. I forward on what you send to me.
Continue in the service and work of the Lord. Your works are being recorded by Him. know that you Susan are blessed and highly favored of the Lord our God.
I too am doing the 21day Daniel Fast.

Hi Susan, I am very exited about starting the the Daniel fast again. I had no idea that bread and rice was allowed until I read your blog. On my first fast I went 21 days without bread or rice not knowing wheat was okay. I am so glad I found your blog and I can’t wait to start reading your new book.
I also have a question about coffee beans. Not sure if it has been asked before but I know the we can’t drink anything but water. I was wondering if a few coffee beans would be okay to eat since they are beans..Just for a quick pick me up early in the morning.
Blessings to you!

I don’t want to rain on your parade, but only unleavened bread is allowed on the Daniel Fast. And also, only whole grain rice. No coffee beans at all . . .

After you are on this eating plan for a week or so, you will all the natural pick-me-up you need! It’s such a great and healthy way of eating! Be sure to get The Daniel Fast Guidelines by going to http://www.Daniel-Fast.com so you know what you can and cannot eat during the fast.

Be blessed. I am very glad you found us! We’ve been camping out here on the Internet for a couple of years now!

Started the Daniel fast 3 days ago. So happy I found this website because I was starting to get discouraged because my food choices had been limited. Thank you for the reference recipes to keep me motivated and encouraged. Knowing there are others I can connect with is also great. Thank you.

Hi,
My question is that I’ve seen you mention it’s ok to have whole wheat pasta and I was wondering where that is in scripture? I just want to make sure I’m going about this as pure as possible based off scripture. I was also curious about using Stevia in foods or raw organic sugar, because I’ve searched for recipes and some people are saying it’s ok as long as it’s raw sugar or whatever Stevia is. Is that true? Thanks for the blog, it’s has already helped me a lot! God bless you for the work you do with this.

Hi Susan
I am new to the Daniel Fast and to your blog. I have not had an opportunity to read up on all the foods I should or should not eat. I would appreciate it if you would tell me if “STREIT’S MATZOS” made with organic wheat flour & water, without yeast permitted on the Daniel fast? Rosalee

Daniel was not fasting, he just changed his diet in Chapter 1. see (Leviticus 11). He fasted in Chapter 9:3 and 10:3-13. There is nothing wrong with encouraging people to eat healthy, God desires that. Fasting has nothing to do with dieting. Fasting is abstinence. (Did Jesus eat pulse and drink water when he was on His 40 day fast? Or Moses?)

Actually, most people with diabetes do very well on the Daniel Fast. Some may add extra protein. But most are able to balance their BS levels on the Daniel Fast. Be sure to check with your physician and track your blood sugar.

You would be considered needing a “special diet” so add the appropriate amounts of protein prepared using only ingredients on the Daniel Fast and you should be fine. The Daniel Fast is a very healthy way to eat. You also might want to check you calcium intake.

There are many examples of partial fasts in the Bible. The definition of biblical fasting is “to restrict food for a spiritual purpose.” That is indeed what Daniel did in Chapter 1 as well as in Chapter 10. Countless Bible scholars recognize these as partial fasts – as they do John the Baptist when he ate only locust and honey. In these and other cases in the Bible, including Passover, all are restricting food for a spiritual purpose as opposed to a carnal reason. So these are all fasts. They are not like that which Jesus and Moses experienced, but they are still fasts.

The Bible (KJV) says that Daniel ate only pulse (food grown from seed) and drank only water (Daniel 1). So, since whole grains come from plants and grown from seed, they are acceptable on the Daniel Fast. Bible scholars agree on this matter. Later translations replaced the word “pulse” with vegetables and that may be where your issue with consuming grains is based . . . on an incomplete translation of a word.

If you want to research this further, I suggest you go to Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

The issue that caused Daniel to object was the meat and wine, which was 1) either sacrificed to the Babylonians gods; or 2) they way the meat was prepared and according to Jewish dietary laws requried very specific treatment. While the second possibility may be true, most Bible scholars agree wth the first option.

So Daniel asked to be feed only pulse and to drink only water. The Hebrew word translated to pulse (and later poorly translated to just vegetables) means foods grown from seed. Therefore, the Daniel Fast is a plant-based eating plan centered on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Clearly, pasta isn’t mentioned in the Daniel Fast, but the prophet ate foods grown from seed and drank only water. So whole grains are allowed on the fast. Whole wheat flour is used in many pastas that are now widely available. This fairly recent change, makes eating whole wheat pasta acceptable on the Daniel Fast.

Stevia is a great option BEFORE or AFTER the Daniel Fast. But no sweeteners are allowed, so that would leave Stevia on the NO side of the list.

Hi Susan. I started with Jentzen Franklin the Fasting Movemen 21 days, today. however i said to myself liquids only for 7 days. I am in search of Intimacy, Clarity, Direction and Guidance. And, also, salvation, protection, baptism in water.For my teenage daugers and my nieces and nephews I desire order for their lives and for them to have a burning desire to know JESUS CHRIST. plz pray for us Ms Susan and my new blogging family. Your website is very informative, i did the herbal tea with honey I even did a protein drink with soy whey powder and organic rice milk. However I will re- evaluate my fast. I desire to be a purist and this fast, and with this new information I will considered Daniel, the prayer he prayed and how God moved on his behalf on the 24th day. When it is written, it is true. And our Father said that his word will not return back to Him void. Isaiah 55:11. He will bring us all out with Breathroughs, Peace, Joy. Umderstanding and Love. I thank God and thank u for doing what God has called u to do. IN JESUS CHRIST NAME. Amen!

Hi
I am taking part in this 21 day fast starting from today. I have however eaten olive bread and green salad(no cheese) and fruits today cos I have been feeling weak.Is this okay? I am planning to start a full fast (water only) tomorrow for 3 days. I am praying for financial breakthroughs, healing and salvation of my family and to be obedience to God . In Jesus name Amen

Hi Susan,
I just went out and purchased a box of “STREIT’S MATZOS” it has salt and malt in it. Is this something that is acceptable to eat while on the Daniel Fast? I am on my 9th day, my mother and I began the fast at 12:01am on Sunday, January 3, 2010. By the way, I have purchased your book and have almost completed it in its entirety — it is such a good read. My mother told me to order one for her today. Have you hit the #1 Bestseller list yet? I know the Holy Spirit is with me on this fast because I am only eating approximately 500-800 calories a day and I am (NOT) hungry. I got up this morning and prayed to God which this was a first for me. My alarm clock did not go off — I set it for 4:45pm (by accident) it should have been set for 4:45am but I was up at 5:00am and ready to go. I thank God for choosing me, when I didn’t like myself; he loved me in spite of. I am so full of the sprit right now that I think I should stop writing before I start praising the Father at my desk. Thank you for your blog and being faithful and obedient to the spirit. Have a “Blessed” day my sister in Christ.
Georgia

I am just starting the fast and found a great source for prepared foods that meet the Daniel Fast guidelines. If you live near a Trader Joe’s market (TraderJoes.com has locations) they feature foods that are vegan certified, minimally processed and organic. Since I work full time I needed things I can take with me quick. My favs are the mini bran muffins sweetened with apple juice and the mango smoothies with 100% fresh fruit juice (in the refrigerator case by the milk.) Lots of whole grain products too.

About Susan Gregory and The Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is a method of fasting and based on the fasting experiences of the Old Testament prophet Daniel.

Susan Gregory started writing about the fast when she responded to a word from the Lord. Since that time she has become the leading source for information about the Daniel Fast and has a personal call to "serve God by serving His people." Her desire is to help men and women experience a successful fast as they grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Susan is the author of "The Daniel Fast: feed your soul, strengthen your spirit and renew your body" which is available from local and online bookseller or from http://Daniel-Fast.com